Mini excavator pin removal

[MMW]

Boom cylinder lower pin. Customer needed to remove cylinder for rebuild and could not get it out so he cut it and left the pcs. in the ears , then called me. Most times now I don't even try to heat and remove because it usually doesn't work out plus this had all the hoses in close proximity. I just start on cutting it out. First if possible I drill through about 3/8" diameter. First a 1/8" or 3/16"pilot. This way you don't get blow back from the torch. If that is not possible I'll use the airarc to make a through hole. This time drill was fine.

[MMW]

Once I have through holes I use the torch to carefully cut fron inside out. After it is opened up the heat and material removed let it shrink some and it usually taps right out. Small amount of heat is transferred to the ears and no scaring of bore if careful. Also no chance of breaking ears off because you aren't pounding on it. You can see in the second pic the far ear where I assume he heated it and the near ear the paint is still visible. A little clean up with a file and good as new. 1-1/4 hours total.

[ryanjones2150]

The pilot hole is a good idea. Probably took more time dragging the torch hoses out than it took to actually cut them out too.

[Don52]

Great technique to keep in mind.